Beckham gives Real a lift up to the top
Underfire England captain David Beckham lifted some of the misery hanging over Spanish giants Real Madrid here as a spectacular freekick saw them to a 1-0 victory over Osasuna and to the top of the table.
Underfire England captain David Beckham lifted some of the misery hanging over Spanish giants Real Madrid here as a spectacular freekick saw them to a 1-0 victory over Osasuna and to the top of the table.
Beckham's 30 metres effort gave new coach Mariano Garcia Remon a winning start just a day after he took over from Jose Antonio Camacho, who resigned following two defeats to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League and then to Espanyol in the championship on Saturday.
It rewarded Real for a dominant performance that had seen them fail to put their chances away, though they had given a nervy performance in the first half hour after being greeted with jeers and whistles from the fans.
All the so-called stars received catcalls when the team - which was deprived of injured playmaker Zinedine Zidane, and the suspended duo of Argentine Walter Samuel and Michel Salgado - was announced with the lesser known players receiving cheers as the fans made their displeasure at their performances under Camacho known.
However after they had settled down they overran Osasuna with Luis Figo sending a shot just wide of the post on the half hour mark, then Fernando Morientes saw his shot beaten away by the inspirational Ricardo Sanzol.
Morientes again went close as the half neared its end, then Roberto Carlos - who had been booed more vociferously than most as he was rumoured to be behind the dressingroom discord with Camacho - beaten away by Sanzol, who also saved well from Albert Celades.
Sanzol had to be at his best again to turn away for a corner a shot by Raul Bravo in the second-half before Beckham - who had been left on the bench by Camacho for an hour of Saturday's game - came to the rescue.
His freekick sailed into the top left hand corner leaving the valiant Sanzol vainly stretching for it in a replica of his effort against Numancia in their 1-0 victory over a week ago - he was to slightly taint his evening when he was booked in injury time.
Real still had their nervous moments with Casillas having to get down to save from Australian striker John Aloisi but in the end they held out to gain a moraleboosting victory.